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Confusing the benefits of black tea with those of black cohosh tea could prove disastrous. Black tea and black cohosh are two very different types of teas. A refreshing cup of black tea is often enjoyed in the morning in place of a cup of coffee, or in the evening to relax and wind down. Black cohosh tea is not a culinary beverage, but a tea used as an herbal remedy to combat some of the symptoms of menopause. Both teas may offer health benefits, but consult your physician before using either tea to treat a health condition.

What is Black Tea?

Second only to water, black tea is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, according to Janet Tietyen, a nutritionist at the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Black tea is brewed from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, which have been allowed to ferment, or oxidize, fully before drying. This accounts for black tea's high concentrations of the amino acid theanine and certain antioxidants called theaflavins, as well as thearubigens, which give black tea its dark reddish-black color. Drinking black tea may also offer you some health benefits, although scientific evidence hasn't proved this conclusively.

Black Tea Effects

Black tea contains the stimulant caffeine, with 11 to 61 milligrams of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup, according to MayoClinic.com. Although more scientific studies on its health effects are needed, drinking black tea appears to offer you some protection against developing heart disease and atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. It may also retard the growth of some cancers, including skin, liver, lung, esophageal, stomach, colon and breast cancers. Hold the milk if you drink black tea for its health benefits. A 2006 study published in "The European Heart Journal" found adding dairy products to black tea counteracted its positive effects on the vascular system. Possible side effects of black tea are associated with its caffeine content and include heartburn, rapid heartbeat and insomnia.

What is Black Cohosh Tea?

Although in name it appears similar, black cohosh tea is a completely different type of tea than black tea. Also known in folk medicine as bugbane and rattleroot, black cohosh is harvested from the roots and rhizomes, or underground stems, of the Actaea racemosa plant. Black cohosh, a relative to the buttercup, grows in the forests of North America. It contains different active substances than black tea, offering high concentrations of sugar compounds called glycosides and fukinolic acid, a substance which may have some estrogen-like properties.

Black Cohosh Tea Effects

Black cohosh tea has no caffeine and isn't a stimulant. Its estrogen-like effects may help relieve menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and anxiety. It is also used to alleviate inflammation due to arthritis and pre-menstrual symptoms, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Keep in mind that the efficacy of black cohosh hasn't been proven and there are some safety concerns. Black cohosh can cause intestinal distress, headache and slow heart rate. Never take black cohosh without your doctor's approval, especially if you have had a hormone-sensitive cancer, such as breast cancer, or are taking medication that affects your liver.

About the Author

Kathryn Meininger began writing and publishing poetry in 1967. She was co-founder and editor of the professional magazine "Footsteps" and began writing articles online in 2010. She earned a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and a Bachelor of Arts in biology from William Paterson University.

Photo Credits

blue cup and tea from a blue tea-pot image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com